[copperx]

Buying a book before reading it is almost always a bad decision, even if it has rave reviews. And even if you love the book, owning it serves no practical purpose unless you constantly re-read it.

The only good thing is that they serve as visual reminders of the books that you've read; otherwise it's easy to forget the titles and authors.

[duckmysick]

> owning it serves no practical purpose unless you constantly re-read it.

I disagree. I write a lot on the margins of the books I own - notes, personal observations, questions, criticism. I highlight interesting passages. It helps me understand the book deeper and retain its ideas.

[bluGill]

Note that rereading a book doesn't have to mean cover to cover. If you look things up in the book once in a while you should have it.

It doesn't need to be you who reads the book either, it could by your personal library and you lend it to friends interested in the same subject. Public libraries will get rid of unpopular books so having a personal library of obscure subjects you care about is useful. (The internet does not have everything)

[throw0101a]

> The only good thing is that they serve as visual reminders of the books that you've read; otherwise it's easy to forget the titles and authors.

It's possible to create an account on Good Reads or Library Thing to keep track. There's Delicious Library as well (for Mac?).